When North Korean leader Kim Jong Eun got out of a Beijing armored green train on Tuesday, greeted by Chinese officials waving his hand along the red carpet, many observers noticed the girl walking behind him smiling politely, wearing black dressed with her hair tied with a bow tied with her hair tied with her.
This is thought to be Kim Joo Ai, the mystical daughter of the leader. She has made various public offerings over the years, but primarily military-related events have prompted speculation about why she is in Beijing and whether Kim will be able to prepare a future successor.
The young girl’s first public trip abroad is one of the greatest significance, with a parade in which Chinese leader Xi Jinping shows off her army, where her father is shoulder to shoulder with fellow dictators, including Xi’s nearby association and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The child was nowhere to be seen Wednesday when her father walked the red carpet at Tiananmen Square prior to the Xi military parade.
Little is known about Kim’s daughter. Kim’s daughter confirmed her presence after years of speculation, her first public appearance in 2022.
American basketball star Dennis Rodman revealed that Kim had a baby called Jua when he visited Pyongyang in 2013, then told the Guardian, “I hugged their baby (Kim’s wife).”
There are various reports on her exact age and year of birth. It is widely estimated that she is now a preteen or an early teenager, but it is based primarily on Rodman’s testimony, and it is not clear how many months she was when he met his family.
Kim’s daughter was introduced to the world in True Kim Style in 2022, and accompanied her father when she oversaw the launch of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). Several more were made in 2023. It was mainly military events, including military parades staring closely at the ICBMS lines in the capital Pyongyang.
At the time, experts said her appearance at these events sent a clear message. North Korea has strictly held arms, including nuclear programs, and said the Kim family remained at the heart of the country’s military power.
“By making his wife and daughter unforgettable, Kim hopes that his family dynasty and North Korean troops are irreparably linked to his family dynasty and North Korean troops,” said Rafe Eric Easley, a professor at EWHA University in Seoul after the 2023 parade.
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Kim Jong Anne’s daughter is believed to be named Kim Joo Ah, making her first public appearance outside of North Korea, sparking speculation about her potential future as a leader. CNN’s Mike Valerio has further reported on his visit to Beijing. #cnn #news
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North Korea has been ruled as a genetic dictatorship since it was founded by Kim Il Sung in 1948. His son, Kim Jong Il, took over after his father died in 1994, and the UN, Kim Jong, came to power 17 years later when Kim Jong Il died.
Given the importance of the family dynasty, Kim’s daughter’s public debut sparked debate over whether she could be groomed as a successor.
Some have pointed to the way she is covered in North Korean provincial media, known as “loved” and “respected.” Experts said taking her to military events from an early age could be a way to prepare for the reality of leading 1.3 million military personnel and cultivate trust and respect from those troops.
But others are skeptical. They say they have long believed that Kim’s two other children would be chosen as successors instead.
Her public appearance could also be a PR move to nurture Kim’s image as a “family man” or “father” figure, said Jenny Town, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center and director of the Center’s Korean programme in a 2024 interview with CNN.
She pointed out that it makes sense for Kim to use her daughter for that purpose in place of her son. Because while Rodman had already revealed her existence to the world, little is known about his brother who could be in the spotlight.
For example, Kim himself studied in Switzerland in the 1990s, but his daughter “is so well known now that she can never study abroad,” Town said.
